Alicia Keys Is Losing Herself Aug. 25/08 – It’s the same tune that many people lament – “My job is killing me!” That’s what Alicia Keys is saying. She says, “Fame can bring a lot of emptiness. You are so driven that you work 20 hours a day, you get four hours of sleep, you do all that for 10 years straight.” Keys is open and honest about the great parts of her career as well, the money, the 11 Grammys and the fame but she points out that it’s a tough gig. More below.
Stevie Wonder awarded Gershwin Prize Sept. 23, 2008 – Congrats to Stevie Wonder. The music legend is set to become the second recipient of the Gershwin Prize, an award handed out by the U.S. Library of Congress. More
First Annual Smooth Jazz Festival Sept. 23, 2008 - Bregenz is a beautiful Austrian town located by the Lake of Constance, close to the Swiss and German borders. It was then the perfect venue for the first smooth jazz festival ever organised in Europe. More
Alicia Keys Burps As Well As She Sings Aug. 12, 2008 – If only Alicia Keys spent more time burping, maybe I could stomach her more, well, probably not. Keys says she’s on a strict regiment when she tours, she looks after herself, doesn’t strain her voice and watches what she eats especially before each show. The singer says she once got on stage and couldn’t stop burping. “One time I ate right before going on stage and I had to hide my belches from the microphone. more below
Natalie Cole In Hospital Again September 21, 2008 – Natalie Cole is in hospital again. The Smooth Jazz singer who is battling Hepatitis C has been sidelined from complications from the disease." More
Norman Brown Christmas Tour September 21, 2008 - It is well known that the Christmas season is very profitable not only for a lot of businesses, but also for Smooth Jazz musicians. Grammy Award winning guitarist and vocalist Norman Brown is getting ready for Christmas. More
Check Our Sister Site Rock History Book Expect updates on Classic & Modern Rock. Also interviews and reviews. Check out the new site right now. www.rockhistorybook.com.
Alicia Keys Says Music Kept Her From Gangs July 29, 2008 – Just imagine Alicia Keys as a gangsta! If it wasn’t for music she could have been holding you up but wait, her music is truly scarier than any knife. Keys grew up in the rough area of New York and to keep her out of trouble, most notable, gangs she enrolled her daughter in dance and music lessons. More below
Is Navarro the Smooth Jazz Savior? Ken Navarro represents a breed of Smooth Jazz musicians that could possibly save the format or at least be one of its hero’s to bring it back in case it disappears. Read our Interview.
Wayman Tisdale Loses Leg to Cancer Aug. 27, 2008 – Smooth Jazz guitarist and former NBA star Wayman Tisdale has lost part of his right leg to Cancer. His wife told the press yesterday that “everything went well.” More
Alicia Keys Is Losing Herself Aug. 25/08 – It’s the same tune that many people lament – “My job is killing me!” That’s what Alicia Keys is saying. She says, “Fame can bring a lot of emptiness. You are so driven that you work 20 hours a day, you get four hours of sleep, you do all that for 10 years straight.” Keys is open and honest about the great parts of her career as well, the money, the 11 Grammys and the fame but she points out that it’s a tough gig. She says, “All of a sudden, you think, 'I'm a singer and, yes, I'm a songwriter and, yes, I perform, but what else is in my life? Do I have a family? Am I growing inside? Am I always too busy to see my mother and the people I love?” The 27 year old singer ads, “You have to numb yourself because you are away so long. It can change you and that is not the type of person I want to be. People always want something from you - you become like a ghost of yourself or of the person you could be.”
Keys recently got the honour of recording the theme to the new James Bond film, ‘Quantum of Solice’ with Jack White of the White Stripes. Her new single ‘Superwoman’ will be out on Sept 1st. – by John Beaudin
Alicia Keys Burps As Well As She Sings Aug. 12, 2008 – If only Alicia Keys spent more time burping, maybe I could stomach her more, well, probably not. Keys says she’s on a strict regiment when she tours, she looks after herself, doesn’t strain her voice and watches what she eats especially before each show. The singer says she once got on stage and couldn’t stop burping. “One time I ate right before going on stage and I had to hide my belches from the microphone - that was funny!” Keys says let that be a lesson to all singers who chow-down just before hitting the stage – remember once the burping starts, it stays.
The diva has just partnered with Vitamin Water after becoming addicted to the drink, “I don't partner with anybody, but this really was natural for me because I've been a fan from the beginning. I love their personality. Have you ever read the bottles? Don't you just feel naturally smarter when you read it?"
50 Cent and Jennifer Aniston both endorse Vitamin Water. – by John Beaudin
Alicia Keys Says Music Kept Her From Gangs July 29, 2008 – Just imagine Alicia Keys as a gangsta! If it wasn’t for music she could have been holding you up but wait, her music is truly scarier than any knife. Keys grew up in the rough area of New York and to keep her out of trouble, most notable, gangs she enrolled her daughter in dance and music lessons. Keys, says, "It was the best thing she ever did for me. I'd go and hang out with my friends, but would only do it for 45 minutes as I had to get to my next class. My extracurricular lessons gave me a real sense of focus and drive and they helped to keep me out of trouble."
Keys did still grow up pretty tough saying, “Gang culture was everywhere and there were altercations all the time. You'd often find yourself in situations where you wished you had something more than just your hands. So I would carry around a little shank, a home made knife.” Isn’t that special? We still think she would have been less dangerous as a crook. – By John Beaudin
Praise the Lord - Alicia Keys Wants to Retire July 8, 2008 – Could my prayers be answered? Alicia Keys has hinted that she may retire in a few years. The 27 year old has just wrapped up her North American tour and says she has plans for things other than music, "I am working hard now so I have the choice to retire when I want," she told ContactMusic.com. "I would like to travel the world and stay in places instead of having to move on like I do now. I want to experience difference cultures." So will she retire from music? Well, Alicia likes to hear herself talk and this is just that – talk. Keys is now off to Europe to do more touring. Now if we could just get Beyonce to retire. – by John Beaudin
Sept. 23, 2008 - Bregenz is a beautiful Austrian town located by the Lake of Constance, close to the Swiss and German borders. It was then the perfect venue for the first smooth jazz festival ever organised in Europe. 
Ken Navarro represents a breed of Smooth Jazz musicians that could possibly save the format or at least be one of its hero’s to bring it back in case it disappears. 
Aug. 25/08 – It’s the same tune that many people lament – “My job is killing me!” That’s what Alicia Keys is saying. She says, “Fame can bring a lot of emptiness. You are so driven that you work 20 hours a day, you get four hours of sleep, you do all that for 10 years straight.” Keys is open and honest about the great parts of her career as well, the money, the 11 Grammys and the fame but she points out that it’s a tough gig. She says, “All of a sudden, you think, 'I'm a singer and, yes, I'm a songwriter and, yes, I perform, but what else is in my life? Do I have a family? Am I growing inside? Am I always too busy to see my mother and the people I love?” The 27 year old singer ads, “You have to numb yourself because you are away so long. It can change you and that is not the type of person I want to be. People always want something from you - you become like a ghost of yourself or of the person you could be.”
Aug. 12, 2008 – If only Alicia Keys spent more time burping, maybe I could stomach her more, well, probably not. Keys says she’s on a strict regiment when she tours, she looks after herself, doesn’t strain her voice and watches what she eats especially before each show. The singer says she once got on stage and couldn’t stop burping. “One time I ate right before going on stage and I had to hide my belches from the microphone - that was funny!” Keys says let that be a lesson to all singers who chow-down just before hitting the stage – remember once the burping starts, it stays.
